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Patented lan. 10, [899. Z. L. TANNER & J. B. BLISH.

SUUNDING APPARATUS FOR NAVIGATORS' USE.

(Application filed Apr. 28, 1898.)

(No Model.)

///fl//////////////////// /////M- WITNES /NVENTORS SES THE Noms PETERScu, PHOTO-ume., WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT rraca ZERA L. TANNER AND JOIIN B. BLISI I, OF THEUNITED STATES NAVY.

- SOUNDING APPARATUS FOR NAVIGATORS USE.

SPECIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 617,451, dated January10, 1899.

Application filed April 28, 1898. Serial No. 679,()99. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concrn:

Be it known that we, ZERA L. TANNER, retired, and JOHN B. BLISH, both,of the United States Navy, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Sounding Apparatus for Use in Navigation, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanyin g drawings.

- This invention relates to improvements in devices for sounding thedepth of water for purposes of navigation.

The object of the invention is to produce an apparatus which can beConveniently used to measure and determine depths of water up to, say,one hundred fathoms without stopping the forward movement of the ship.

A sounding-tube largely in use in navigation is known as the SiriVilliam Thompson sounding apparatus. In this a glass tube of smallinternal diameter, open at bottom and closed at top and internallycoated with a Chemical which is discolored by water, is attached to thesounding-line in such manner that Water has free access to the open endof the tube. The water by its entrance compresses the air in the tubejust in proportion to the inmersion, and on taking the tube from theWater the extreme depth to which the tube has descended can be readilyasc'ertained by the discoloration of the tube-lining,

a graduated scale being marked on or applied to the tube. The bore ofthe tube is so small that it acts as a capillary tube, and water willnot enter nor air escape, although the tube maybe inclined froni theperpendicular, as is generally the case while sounding from a movingship. An objection to the Thompson tube is that it can generally be usedbut once without recoating, and on shipboard there is little facilityfor chemical work of this character, so that a large number of coatedglass tubes must be carried, and when the supply is exhausted byfrequent soundings very serious mishaps may occur.

We have discovered that capillary tubes of glass, with the interior ofthe tube ground to show a translucent surface, become transparent whenwet internally, and therefore act as well as the chemically-preparedtubes referred to, and these ground-glass tubes when dried again becometranslucent, so that -the same tube may be used repeatedly, and

ured.

as the capillary tube of small diameter will not dry quickly underordinary conditions we have devised means by which the moisture can bewithdrawn from the tube With facility, and We have further devisedapparatus to protect such tubes While in use in sounding and toconveniently apply, remove, and dry thetubes.

Figure 1 is a broken section intended to represent a ground-glass tubewith a cap and closing-plu g. Fig. 2is an elevation of a scale by whichthe immersion of the tube is meas- Fig. 3 is a section of asounding-lead, with the shield or cover and tube therein. Fig. 4 is anelevation of a shield or protector for attachment to a sounding-line andnot directly to the lead. i

The drawings are merely illustrative and are not intended to showproportions of parts.

The transparent glass tube l'is generally made about two feet inlength,one-fourth inch external diameter, and one-eighth inch ininternal diameter. These proportions are not essential; but the bore ofthe tube must be small and uniform to prevent liquid from having toofree movement therein-and for accuracy. The interier of the tube isground or abraded in usual manner of grinding glass, as by passing awire or cord covered with sand orother abradant through the tuberepeatedly or by fluoric-acid treatment.

A close-tting cap 2, preferably of brass, is cemented to one end of thetube. In this cap there is a screw-plug 3, the threaded part fittin g athreaded aperture in the cap 2. As the top or covered end of the tube isgenerally applied to the scale G with the end of plug 3 against the barg of the gage, it is desirable that the Caps and plugs of allsounding-tubes should be alike.

WVhen used in sounding, the plug 3 is screwed home, making an air-tightj oint. No air escape must be permitted while the instrument is in use,and on occasion any usual packing-may be used to insure a tight joint.When Withdrawn from the water, the distance to water has entered thetube will be clearly indicated On the tube. Then by withd'awingplug 3dry air may be forced through the tube to eXpel the moisture therefrom.W`e find in actual use that the suction of the lungs Will be sufficientto draw air through the tube and dry it in a minute. If air is blownthrough the tube, it will take a longer time to dry, and if the plug isnot removed from the tube m oisture will remain in the tubeindefinitely.

By drying the tube it may be at once reused, and as there is not muchdanger of breakage a few tubes will be all that are needed on a ship.

To protect the tube in use, it may be inclosed in a shield or protector4:. This shield is usually a small brass tube a little longer than theglass tube l and large enough to easily contain the glass tube. Theshield '4 has a cover 5, connected by a bayonet-joint when applied andheld against loss by a chain G. Rings or loops 7 7 are applied to theshield, so that the same may be attached to the sounding-line, usuallyabove the lead. Casing 4: has a cross-bar 8 near the bottom to supportthe glass tube, and the glasstube is held by washers 9, of rubber, cork,cotton, or other material, so as to be protected against accident.

lVhen the glass tube lis usedin the sounding-lead a special constructionof lead is necessary, and a lead so made is known as a combination-lead.lVe have devised the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 for this purpose. In thisdevice, A indicates the lead proper, of about usual size and length togive the necessary weight, but having an interior tube B, preferably ofgalvanized iron, brass, or steel to give stiffness to the lead'. Thelead may be cast about tube B, so as to be firmly connected thereto.Tube B projects a little above the top of lead A, so as to receive capC, which is held by a bayonet-catch or in any other usual manner. A holeD in the lead pernits water to enter tube B. The glass tube 1 isinclosed in tube Bin the same manner as has been described for casing 4:and packed by light rings 9. The sounding-lead A has a bail F, of strongwire, which can be turned to one side to permit access to the cap C andthe insertion of the glass tube into or its renoval from the tube orcasing B in the lead.

From the foregoing it will, we think, be understood that the main partof our invention lies in the construction of the glass tube l withground interior surface and with a closefitting stopper at one end,which stopper is removable to dry the tube, and that we have adaptedmechanism to the protection of this tube when in use.

e are aware that bottles and tubes for Chemical purposes have beenground on their inner surfaces for a little distance from the open endfor the purpose of securin g a groundglass stopper therein. Such adevice is not a capillary tube and would not be available for thepurpose of sounding in deep waterin the way we have described, and suchwe do not claim as our invention.

hat we claim isl. A capillary tube for sounding purposes, composed ofglass having the inner surface ground or etched throughout its length asdescribed, said tube provided with means for tightly closing one end theother end remaining open for use, substantially as described.

2. The glass sounding-tube described, having a ground interior surface,and having one open end and a closing-cap at the other end, and arenovable plug by which one end may be tightly closed, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a sounding apparatus, the soundinglead having means for attachmentto a sounding-line, the lead having a rigid interior tube open throughits length and having an opening at the bottom through which water mayenter the tube, and a removable cover at top, whereby a registering-tubeof glass or the like, may be entered into the top of and confined in therigid tube, and water admitted to the rigid tube from below, allcombined substantially as described.

4. In a sounding apparatus, the soundinglead A having interior rigidtube B and cap C, and a bail F, connected to the lead, so as to turn outof the way of cap C, said lead having a passage for water into theinterior tube of the lead, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of witnesses.

Z. L. TANNER. JOHN B. BLISH. lVitnesses to the signature of Z. L.Tanner:

W. A. BARTLETT, WALLACE MURDOCK.

lVitnesses to the signature of John B. Blish

